"Hello there!" shouted Hall, stepping out on a rock, and Grimes stopped his mule and looked up.
"Don't know you!" he announced, "but dam' your black hearts, we've come to git back our horses!"
"That's Grimes—the sheepman," explained Hall over his shoulder, and Meshackatee stepped down behind a rock.
"You talk to him," he grumbled. "I got no use for a sheepman." And Winchester and Bill nodded assent.
"Yes, sure it's Grimes!" yelled the pseudo Indian, "but who in damnation are you?"
"My name is Hall," answered McIvor shortly. "I met you down at the Bassetts'!"
"Oh, that preacher guy!" observed the sheepman sarcastically. "Well, what are you doing up here?"
"I'm a deputy sheriff," retorted McIvor. "What does your business happen to be?"
"A de-puty sheriff!" whooped Grimes. "Hey, boys; here's a deputy sheriff!"
He laughed and the gang of make-believe Apaches came riding up to join him.